Basketballer dreams of green and gold for 2015

GYMPIE'S 19-year-old Steven Elliott, a National League wheelchair basketball player, has set his eyes on the green and gold.

And he's hoping his place in the RSL Queensland Spinning Bullets wheelchair basketball side will see him graduate to an Australian open-division side.

The RSL Spinning Bullets feature in the National Wheelchair Basketball League, which is played around the country and includes a fierce competition and some of the best players in the world.

After being recognised by the team previously, Elliott's plan for 2015 is to make it into the state side.

From there, there's a chance he could be called up for the Australian Rollers, who are currently number one in the world.

Elliott took up wheelchair basketball in December 2009, after being diagnosed with transverse myelitis which had confined him to a wheelchair by the age of 13.

Despite having to travel to the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane to play, Elliott said he lived for the contact of the sport and the rough and tumble that came with the territory of the game.

His dedication to the sport spans to intense training including sessions with Paralympian Bridie Kean.

While the talented sportsman has appropriately high ambitions, he's already making a name for himself in wheelchair basketball circles; some of the basketball player's proudest moments include making the under-23 Australian team in 2011 and this year captaining the U23 Queensland Rolling Thunder for the second time in a row.

Elliott said playing with and against some of the best in the sport bolstered his skills and pushed him to become a better player.

Should Elliott make the Bullets squad, which will see its season kick off around May, he will have to travel in order to make training in Brisbane and will play every second week for four to six months.

Elliott is asking for support from the community to help assist him in reaching his goals. To help with funding or sponsorship call Steven Elliott on 5483 6202 or 0457 877 224.